Direction indicator



S. NAKASORA. DIRECTION INDICATOR. l APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1920.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

1N VENTOR SE/KACH/PO NAA/A8064.

ATTORNEY A IQN dill@ met raranr SEIHACHIRO NAKASOR-A, 01T N ILES, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

AppIication filed November 11, 1920.

which embodies the use of a signal memberv adapted to be moved bodily to indicate a proposed turn of the vehicle to the right-or left .and the indicated stop, the particular object vof the present invention being to pro-l duce an indicator of this type which .is simple in construction and is so built as to insure that it may be operated without danger of getting out of order and with certainty at all times.

The present invention contemplates the use of a semaphore which may be rotated to the right orto the left in a horizontal plane, or may be turned downwardly to assume a position in a vertical planesaid semaphore being mounted upon a rigid supporting armA carrying means by which the semaphore may be .readily manipulated.

The invention is illustrated by way of eX- ample in the accompanying drawings, in which- .Figure 1 is a view in vertical section and elevation showing the device with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 vis a view of the bottomof the semaphore 'as seen in Plan, showing the shifting means for operating the semaphore.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rview through the supporting arm as seen on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary view andplan showing one means by whichthe indicator mightV be secured to a vehicle wind shield.

Fig. 5 is a transverse view through the switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,.10 indicates one of the vertical posts of a vehicle wind shield. It is proposedV to mount the present invention thereon. al-y though it will be understood that it might be readily secured' to the side of the vehicle Specification of Letters -P-a'tent.

Patent-eell Aug. 1*, 1922.

Serial No. 423,367.

body or in any other position, or 'by any other means than shown in the drawings.

Reference being had to F ig. 4, it will be noted that the clamping bracket 11 is provided to secure the supporting arm 12 in adjustable relation to the wind shield post 10. This clamp structure comprises an arm 13, co-operating with a clamp arm 14, which means may be'secu'red ltogether by al clamp screw 15. The arm 14 carries a tubular support 16 through which the direction indicator arm 12 may be clamped. This clamping action is'brought about by a screw 17. By means of this fitting, the position of the indicator relative to the wind shield may be determined, and at the same ti'mehori- Zontal adjustment of the indicator may be made. It is to be understood, however, that the supporting arm 12 extends at right angles tothe longitudinal aXis 'of the vehicle, and substantially parallel to the glass of the wind shield.

The supporting arm 12` consists of any outer tubular sleeve 18, within which a rotatable sleeve 19 l'is positioned. This sleeve is intended to tit snugly withinthe outer sleeveand is formed at its forwardend with a shoulder 20. The rear end of the inner sleeve 1'9 isthreaded as indicated at 21, to receive `aswitch housing 22. The end ofthis housing yabuts againstthe end of the outer sleeve 19, and co-o'perates with 'the shoulder 20'to prevent longitudinal movement ofthe inner sleeve. Extending through the inner sleeve 19 is a shiftingtube 23. This tube as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, is iitted at its outer end with an opposite member 24, carrying a gear rack 25. The shift ltube is adapted vto be slid longitudinally of `the sleeve 19 This manipulation is brought about by an operating knob 26, which eX- tends through a T. shaped slot 27 in theouter sleeve 18, and a straight slot 28 in the inner sleeve 19. The ends of the Vslot 27 are slightly rounded and counterbo'red to rec'eive'the tapered Vend 29 of the knob. This knob is yi'eldably secured vupon al central stem 80, and is held against the sleeve 18 by a spring It will thus be evident that when thel knob is moved to an extreme posi tion in the slot, the tapered portion 29 will seat-within the counterbore of the slot and will prevent accidental `displacement of the knobv or movement of the sleeve 19.

Rigidly secured to the outer end of the sleeve 19 is a horizontal plate 32 upon which is supported a semaphore box 33. This plate has a central opening 34, through which to.

receive a cylindrical stem 35 projecting from a bearing plate 36. This bearing plate is properly secured to the center of the semaphore box bottom and extends through the opening 34 to receive a gear 37. This gear is keyed to the stem 35 and will produce rotation of the stem and the semaphore box. The lower end of the stem is fitted to receive a lock nut 38. A series of ball bearings 39 are interposed between the plate 32 and a member 36, so that ease in rotation of the semaphore may be produced as the gear 37 is rotated by shifting action of the rack 25.

The semaphore box is rectangular in section and may lbe formed of any desired metal, in any dimensions required. The sides and top of the box are preferably cut away to form light openings in the shapeof arrows as indicated at 40. The ends of the box are preferably cut away to form circu-l lar light openings 41, which will serve partially asa tail light when the vehicle is going straight ahead. Disposed over the light openings aresheets of transparent or translucent material such as Celluloid or glass, and through which the light may shine to bring out the configuration of vthe light opening at night. In the day time, the difference in the color of the sides of the semaphore box and the translucent screens 42 will make the signals visible.

Securedto the bottom of the lamp house is a clamp 43 carrying socket 44 of an incandescent lamp 45, by which the semaphore is illuminated. One wire of an electric circuit is grounded as indicated at 45, while the other wire 46 is led through a tube 47. This conduit extends entirely through the shifting tube 23 and terminates within the switch housing 22. The switch may be ofany desired. construction, although in the present instance it is shown as having a rotating switch blade 48, which is operated by means of a stem 49 extending out through the end of the switch housing `and fitted with a knob 50. l The switch blade may be brought to engage contactk members 51 and 52, to complete a circuit through the conductors 45 and 46 to the. source of electric supply, as indicated at 53. i

In operation of the present invention, the deviceis assembled as shown in Fig. 1, and may then be suitably mounted upon a vehicle. Normally the knob 26 is disposed at the intersection of the longitudinal and` transverse legs of the slot 27. When in this position the semaphore will extend with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axisof the supporting arm 12.` The circular light opening 41 in the opposite ends of the semaphore housing will thus be visible at the front and the rear of thel vehicle, while the arrows on the opposite sides of the housing will both point forwardly. In the event vthat the driver contemplates-a turn to the right, he draws the knob '26 rearwardly along the slot 27, and this will act to shift the rod 23 and the gear rack 25 in a manner to swing the semaphore to the right and cause the arrows on the two sides to both point to the right. In the event that a turn is to be made to the left, the knob is shifted to the extreme forward end of the slot 27 to produce a half turnpof the semaphore, and cause both arrows to point left. It will be understood of course that this movement will be reversed by Vplacing` the rack 25 upon the opposite side of 'the gear 37, and it isalso to be understood'that other means mightbe connected with the shifting member 23 to produce rotation ofv the semaphore without departing from the spirit of the present invention. When the vehicle intends to stop, the knob 26 is brought to the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse portions of slot 27, and

30 will thus encounter the side of slot 28 in the inner sleeve 19, and will rotate this sleeve a quarter of a turn. As will be seenin Fig. 1, the top of the semaphore is formed vertical.` At night the semaphore may be illuminated by the lamp 45. K

It will thus beseen that the invention here disclosed is formed of few parts compactly assembled and readily operated` in a manner to prevent them from becoming inoperative due to vibration or other movement incident to the operation of the vehicle upon which they are mounted. v' l' v While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that various changes vin the combination, construction 'and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled inthe art, without -departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus Adescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Lettersl Pat? -is thus turned downwardly. The knob pin tally, means extending through said inner sleeve for producing horizontal rotation of the semaphore box, and an operating means by which the horizontal rotation of the semaphore box will be brought about, or the vertical rotation of the inner sleeve and the box.

2. A direction indicator comprising an outer fixed sleeve, an inner sleeve rotatable relative to the outer sleeve, and held against longitudinal movement, a mounting plate secured to the end of said inner sleeve and normally operated in a horizontal plane, a semaphore box pivotally disposed upon said mounting plate adapted to rotate horizontally, means extending through said inner sleeve for producing horizontal rotation of the semaphore box, an operating means by which the horizontal rotation of the semaphore box Willbe brought about, or the vertical rotation of the inner sleeve land the box, and means for illuminating the semaphore box.

3. A direction indicator comprising an outer sleeve, means for adjustably securing said sleeve in rigid relation to a vehicle body, an inner rotatable sleeve held against longitudinal movement relative to said outer sleeve, an extension plate secured to the end of said rotatable sleeve, a rectangular semaphore box, rotatable support upon said plate for horizontal movement, andshiftingmeans extending through said rotatable sleeve, means operated by said shifting means for producing horizontal rotation of said semaphore box, and an operating knob adapted to be moved longitudinally of the outer sleeve to actuate said shifting means, and adapted to be swung transversely of the sleeve to produce rotation of the rotatable sleeve and a semaphore box carried thereby.

at. In a vehicle signal device, a fixed bracket a supporting arm extending therefrom, a rotatable and a reciprocal sleeve supported by the arm, a semaphore box pivotally supported at the end of the supporting arm, means connected to the semaphore and the reciprocal sleeve for rotating the former on a horizontal plane When the sleeve is reciprocated and means permitting vertical rotation of the semaphore when the rotatable sleeve is rotated.

5. ln a device of the'character described a semaphore, a pivotal support therefor, a rotatable and a reciprocal sleeve connected to the semaphore, and a single means for actuating either of the sleeves for producing either horizontal rotation or vertical rotation of the semaphore.

6. A direction indicator comprising a fixed bracket, a rotatable sleeve supported thereby, a semaphore supported at the outer end of said sleeve for rotation in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, a second sleeve mounted in the first named sleeve and adapted to be reciprocated for producing rotation of the semaphore in a horizontal plane, and means for rotating the first named sleeve to produce rotation of the semaphore in a vertical plane.

SEIHACHIRO N AKASORA. 

